Suction mouthpiece

ABSTRACT

A body formed with a network of intercommunicating grooves is provided with an exhaust duct that communicates with all of the grooves and is adapted to be connected to a vacuum source. The network of grooves is placed against the user&#39;&#39;s face bridging his slightly parted lips so as to receive saliva. Vacuum drawn through the exhaust duct causes a number of air streams to flow through the several grooves along and against the outer surface of the skin so that salvia positioned there by the user is entrained in these air streams and collected in the exhaust duct for remote disposal.

United States Patent 11 1 Johnson 1 July 3, 1973 1 SUCTION MOUTHPIECE[76] Inventor: Wesley Grant Johnson, 3815 E. peshock Casselle Avenue,Orange, Calif. :1 Rothenberg at 92669 I [22] Filed: Feb. 22, 1972 I vABSTRACT [2]] A l, M 228,044 A body fornjed with a network ofintercommunicating I I, grooves is provided with an exhaust duct thatcommu- Related Application Data nicates with- 'all of the grooves and isadapted to be con- Continuation-impart 0f 5 nected to a {vacuum source.The network of grooves is 1970, abandoned, and Ser. No. 121,262, March5, placed against the users face bridging his Slightly abandoned partedlips so as to receive saliva. Vacuum drawn through the exhaust ductcauses a number of air [52] US. Cl. 32/33 streams to flow through theSeveral grooves along and [5 Cl. no"; g i h outer Surface of the skin sothat Salvia p Field of Search tioned there h user is entrained in theseair streams 56 1 R f n d and collected in the exhaust duct for remotedisposal.

e ere ces I e UNITED STATES PATENTS 24 Claims. 11 Drawing Figures3,541,583 11/1970 Deuschle 32/33 PmmEnJuLa lava sum 1 or 3 PATENTEDJUL31915 3,742,607

smears SUCTION MOUTHPIECE This application is a continuation-in-part ofeach of my co-pending applications Ser. No. 88,565, filed Nov. 12, 1970,for Dental Aerating Suction Mouthpiece Attachment, and Ser. No. 121,262,filed Mar. 5, 1971, for A Dental Aerating Suction Mouthpiece Attachmentand both are now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The presentinvention relates to external suction methods and apparatus and moreparticularly concerns methods and apparatus for collecting moisture andother matter from exterior skin surfaces.

2. Description-of Prior Art In the course of common dental procedures,saliva and other matter is often collected from the patients mouth bythe use of a vacuum operated saliva ejector or suction nozzle that isinserted into the oral cavity and generally positioed beneath thepatients tongue. Saliva and debris flowing into the lowermost portion ofthe oral cavity is readily extracted by the applied suction. 1

Typical of such saliva ejectors are devices shown in US. Pat. No.2,574,135 to Ward, and No. 3,101,543 to Baughan.

However, even with the use of such saliva ejectors it is common to havethe patient, (who is normally reclining during the dental procedures)move from a normal reclining position to a sitting position and rinsehis month by drawing a small quantity of water into his mouth from acup, spitting into a fixed or portable small sink or cuspidor that isprovided with a continuous flow of water, and then wiping his lips witha tissue provided by the dental assistant. This procedure of having thepatient sit up to rinse his mouth involves a number of disadvantages.Particularly for ill or infirm patients, it is necessary for the doctoror his assistant to raise the dental chair back in order to lift thepatient to a sitting position. This entails an undesirable, and timeconsuming interruption in the proceedings. It is also an inconvenienceto the patient who is capable of raising himself from the near totalreclining to a required sitting position.

Although it is possible to rinse the patients mouth while he remains ina reclining position by projecting a stream of water into his mouth andthen employing the conventional saliva ejector, this procedure is notdesirable in many cases. It may not be as effective or satisfying as isspitting or rinsing performed by the patient himself.

The conventional saliva ejector is employed solely inside'the mouth. Theconventional cuspidor can be employed only when it is beneath thedownwardly facing mouth of the patient. Neither is fully adequate norsatisfactory. In all cases wiping by a tissue or the like is stillrequired. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention toprovide suction methods and apparatus that will provide a convenience ofsaliva removal from a reclining patient without'the use of any internaldevices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In carrying out principlesof the presentinvention in accordance with a preferred embodiment thereof, a networkof intercommunicating air conduits, at least some of which have opensides, is placed against the exterior of the skin. A plurality of airstreams are caused to flow through the conduits along and against theouter surface ofv the skin toward a common point. Air from the commonpoint is collected for remote disposal so that the air streams flowingalong the skin entrain moisture and other matter in the paths of theflow of air streams and such entrained matter and moisture is collectedfor remote disposal. Various devices and surface configurations thatprovide differently formed intercommunicating networks of air conduitsmay be applied against the face of the user so as to bridge slightlyparted lips. Moving the conduit network along the skin achieves a wipingor drying effect. Methods and apparatus are provided for selectivelyejecting a pressurized mouth wash from the external air conduitapparatus which can thus be used as either a fluid source or a means ofcollection.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of asuction mouthpiece placed against the' face of a user,

FIG. 2 is a side view with parts broken away of the mouthpiece shown inFIG. 1, showing the users lips in phantom lines,

FIG. 3 is another view of the mouthpiece of FIG. 1, showing the userslips in phantom lines,

FIG. 4 is a pictorial view, with parts broken away of a modification ofthe mouthpiece of FIGS. 1 through 3,

FIG. 5 is a side view of the mouthpiece of FIG. 4, showing a lip of auser in phantom lines,v

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the mouthpiece of FIGS. 4 and 5 in useagainst the lips of the user,

FIG. 7 shows still another modification of the mouthpiece of thisinvention,

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of still another embodiment of the mouthpieceof this invention,

FIG. 9 shows the suction body of FIG. 8, and

FIGS. 10 and 11 are two views of the expectorant plate of FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 anetwork of intercommunicating open sided conduits are formed by aplurality of grooves 10 that comprise elongated depressions molded orotherwise formed in the outer surface 12 of the body of a mouthpiece 14.In this arrangement the mouthpiece body is molded of an integral thinbut substantially stiff and self supporting plate having a generallyconical or dish shape configuration and a continuous peripheral flange16 (FIG. 2) that stiffens the body and enhances appearance andconvenience of use. The central portion of the mouthpiece 14 'isapertured and extends rearwardly of the surface 12 to form a commonexhaust duct 18 into which a suction tube 20 of a conventional dentalsuction machine 22 may be inserted.

The several grooves .10 form open sided conduits having substantiallycontinuous and closed bottoms and sides and open tops that collectivelylie in the dish shape surface 12. The grooves extend radially of themouthpiece from their communication with the central aperture thereof tothe outer peripheral flange 16. The outer peripheral end of each groove,at the upper portion of flange 16 (as viewed in FIG. 2) is in freecommunication with ambient atmosphere at all times during use of thismouthpiece. Further, outer portions of the grooves, beyond the area ofcontact of the user's lips 24, 26 (which lips are shown in phantom inFIGS. 1-3), are also always open to the atmosphere. When the mouthpieceis pressed against the users skin, at least portions of the open sidesof the grooves 20 may be covered. Some of these grooves may be partlyoccluded by skin tissue that is pressed into the groove. However, thegrooves are sufficiently deep and narrow, and pressure of the mouthpieceagainst the skin is sufficiently light so that none of the grooves iscompletely occluded. Accordingly there is always a free and continuousflow of air through the grooves when the exhaust duct is connected to anoperating vacuum machine even though surface 12 is pressed against theusers skin.

Preferably the body of suction mouthpiece 14 of FIGS. 1 3 is integrallymolded of a thin, semi-rigid plastic and may be manufactured and soldfor a cost that enables the device to be used for a single patient andthen discarded. Of course, if deemed necessary or desirable, thedescribed mouthpiece is readily sterilized for repeated use. For suchrepeated use, the mouthpiece may be made of a considerably thicker bodyhaving a dish shape surface 12 in which the grooves are formed bycutting into the surface, as with a narrow milling cutter, saw, or thelike.

In use, the vacuum operated mouthpiece 14 is placed against the lips ofthe user, as illustrated in FIG. 3, and is connected to a source ofnegative pressure or vacuum. v The described mouthpiece configurationcauses the flow of a plurality of air streams along and against theouter surface of selected areas of the skin. With the mouthpiecepositioned as illustrated in FIG. 3, these air streams will flow alongand across both upper and lower lips 24, 26, as indicated by the arrows.The air streams will flow so as to meet at a common point which ispositioned substantially at the parting line between the lips.

With this group of air streams constantly flowing along the lips, theuser merely positions saliva within his mouth at the inside of his lipsand purses or puckers the lips. The venturi effect of the constantlyflowing air streams draw the saliva into the air streams from the smallopening that the user has formed between the lips. The saliva is thuscarried to the common point to flow through the vacuum duct 20 forremote disposal. If deemed desirable or more convenient, the user mayspit with a small amount of effort to forcibly eject the saliva from hismouth to the surface 12. However, even this effort is not required sincethe user need only part his lips slightly with the mouthpiece pressedlightly against and bridging his lips. Accordingly, use is facilitatedeven though full control of the mouth is hampered by effects of a localanesthetic.

The described mouthpiece may be used to wipe the moisture from the lipsand other parts of the exterior surface of the patients skin simply bypressing the surface 12 gently against the selected area of the skin(with the exhaust duct connected to a suitable source of negativepressure) and moving the body over the skin with a wiping motion. In thesource of this procedure moisture and other loose matter upon thesurface of the skin will be swept up by the continuously flowing airstreams and collected for disposal by the exhaust duct. Thus it will beapparent that neither forcible spitting nor any forcible expulsion atall is required for operation of this device which may remove moistureand matter from exterior skin surfaces as described.

Illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 is a modified suction mouthpiece that isformed of a body 114 having a generally saddle-shaped configuration. Thebody is elongated, curved concavely in longitudinal direction andconvexly in transverse direction. A plurality of grooves are formed inthe outer surface of the body 114 and extend transversely about theperiphery of the body, being mutually spaced from each other in thedirection of the longitudinal extent of the body. The transverse grooves110 are in communication with each other by means of a longitudinallyextending groove 111 that intersects all of the transversely extendinggrooves as best shown in FIG. 4. A common exhaust duct in the form of abore 118 is formed in the body 114 and extends through the body intocommunication with the central portion of the longitudinal groove 111and inner portions of central ones of the transverse grooves 110. Thebore 118 comprises a common exhaust duct for the body 114 and is adaptedto be connected to a conventional vacuum tube 120. Also formed in thebody 1 14 is a conduit 133 that extends entirely through the body froman aperture 135 on the grooved front surface of the body to an aperture137 at the rear of the body. Aperture 137 is adapted to be connected toconduit 138 that receives a selectively controlled supply of pressurizedwater or mouthwash. Thus a rinsing liquid may be selectively andcontrollably projected from the aperture 135.

The mouthpiece of FIGS. 4 and 5 is employed in much the same fashion asthat of FIGS. 1, 2 and- 3. However, as illustrated in FIG. 6, themouthpiece does not cover the lips from top to bottom, but rather isplaced against and bridges the slightly parted lips 24, 26, contactingthese at points closer to the inner parting line 25 than the points oflip contact of the mouthpiece of FIG. 1. The concave longitudinal extentof the body 114 extends the point of contact of the body with the lipsfor a distance from one side of the mouth toward the other. Use of thisdevice for collection of moisture from the lips or for collection ofsaliva from the slightly open mouth is substantially the same as that ofthe device of FIG. 1. The lips are slightly parted or pursed and theuser allows saliva and other matter to be drawn to the body 114 which ispositioned as shown in FIG. 6. The vacuum connected to exhaust duct 118draws a group of air streams through the network of interconnectedconduits formed by the several grooves 110, 111. These air streams flowalong the outer surface of the lips adjacent the parting line to thecommon longitudinal groove 111 and thence to the exhaust duct. As in thepreviously described embodiment, the flowing air streams entrainmoisture either positioned on the lip-surface or expelled by the user sothat this moisture and saliva may be remotely disposed.

With the apparatus of FIGS. 4 and 5, selective control of a pressurizedsource of water or mouthwash may be employed by the patient by operationof a valve (not shown) to project such liquid into his mouthafterplacing the aperture 135 of the body 114 at his slightly partedlips which in effect are sealed over and against the portions of thebody 114 adjacent the aperture 135. Having received a suitable quantityof liquid, the patient may then remove this liquid from his mouth simplyby a slight lateral displacement of the body 114 to position his lipsagainst the network of conduits. A

quantity of liquid sufficient to fill the mouth maybe readily andrapidly disposed of in this fashion.

It is to be emphasized that the described use and application of thesuction mouthpieces of FIGS. 1 through 6 and also of each of the otherembodiments described hereinafter are equally well achieved in any oneof a number of different positions of the patient. In fact, thedescribed methods and apparatus may be employed with great facility by apatient lying in a totally reclining position with his head facingdirectly upwardly. The patient need not sit up, lift his head, nor eventurn his head to the side to expectorate. He simply places the describedmouthpiece against his upwardly facing lips, positions the matter to bedisposed of at the front of his mouth and gently directs this matterdirectly upwardly against the conduit network.

The apparatus of FIGS. 4 and 5 may be simplified to some extent andprovided with the cylindrical configuration as shown in FIG. 7. Thearrangement of FIG. 7 is the same in function and in generalconfiguration as that of FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 except for the fact that thebody 214 is cylindrical rather than saddle-shaped. Body 214 is formedwith a plurality of longitudinally spaced transversely extending grooves210, which are interconnected by a longitudinally extending groove'2l1,all of the grooves being in communication with the exhaust duct formedas a bore 218 extending through the body. A water or mouthwashprojecting bore having a projection orifice 235 is also formed to extendthrough the body 214. It will be apparent that the parts 210 through 235of the embodiment of FIG. 7 are arranged bodiment of the inventionwherein the suction mouth piece comprises a suction body 314 having adished suction surface 323 and a number of peripherally spaced reliefports or notches 321. An exhaust duct 318 is formed in the suction'bodyfor connection to a vacuum hose and communicates with the suctionsurface 323 of the body. A continuous peripheral groove 325 is formed inthe suction body 326 to receive the depending peripheral flange 328 ofan expectorant plate 324. Plate 324 is formed with a plurality ofapertures 310 and a central aperture 308. The plate has a dished shapethat substantially conforms with the dished shape of the suction surface323. The peripheral flange 328 is preferably formed with a plurality ofbeads 329 which are a snap fit within the groove 325 of the suctionbody. The parts are so dimensioned and configured that when the plate324 is snapped on and over the suction body 314 the plate is positionedclose to the suction surface 323 but spaced therefrom.

The apparatus of FIGS. 8, 9, 10 and 11 is applied to the users face tobridge the slightly parted lips in a manner exactly analogous to the useand application of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 3. Inoperation of this device, the exhaust duct'318 is connected to a vacuumconduit (not shown) and a plurality of air streams are drawn over andalong the outer surface of the lips and thence through the apertures 310and 308 to the vacuum surface 323. These air streams flow freelyregardless of whether or not one or more of the apertures 310 areoccluded by pressurized contact with the user's skin. A primary orrelief air flow exists, continuously flowing between the flange 328 andthe vacuum body 314 and thence through the relief ports 321 to thevacuum surface 323.

In a preferred manner of use of the embodiment of FIGS. 8 through 11,just as in use of the previously described embodiments, the user willforce liquid contents of the mouth to a position adajcent the inside ofthe closed lips with the mouthpiece placed gently against and bridgingthe lips. The user may then simply slightly pucker the lips to provide asmall opening (in a manner analogous to a configuration of the lipscommonly used for whistling). The continuous air streams flow along andacross the outside of the lips. The suction effect of these air streamswithdraws the liquid from the month. As the liquid enters the airstream, it mixes with the air and flows more readily for exhaustpurposes. After the liquid in the mouth has been disposed of,'themouthpiece may be moved in a wiping motion along the outside suface ofthe lips to wipe the lips of moisture remaining thereafter. Thus nowiping tissue or the like is needed.

It will be readily appreciated that the expectorant plate embodiment ofFIGS. 8-11 may be of other configurations, including those of the otherembodiments described herein, and further, may be formed with a liquidprojecting aperture as deemed necessary or desirable.

It will be readily understood that the several described configurationsare merely exemplary of the many shapes and sizes that may be employed,it being .only necessary to insure that the mouthpiece have a transversedimension sufficient to enable it to bridge the users lips and contactthe face over an area encompassing at least part of both upper and lowerlips. Further, each of the embodiments may be formed of thin moldedplastic for inexpensive replacement that avoids the need forre-sterilization.

There have been described several different methods and apparatus forenabling removal of moisture and other matter from external skin surfaceand from an oral cavity without use of any apparatus internally of thecavity, thereby providing new and improved functions in dental andrelated procedures.

The foregoing detailed description is to be clearly understood as givenby way of illustration and example only, the spirit and scope of thisinvention being limited solely by the appended caims.

I claim: 7

1. A suction mouthpiece for use adjacent to, but totally outside of theoral cavity comprising a mouthpiece body having a surface adapted to bepressed against the face of the user in a position to contact upper andlower lips when the lips are closed or slightly parted, said surfacehaving a transverse dimension sufficient to enable said mouthpiece tobridge said lips and contact the face of the user over an areaencompassing at least a part of both upper and lower lips, said surfacebeing formed with a plurality of grooves, at least some of-said groovesextending to a portion of said body that is free-of contact with theface of the user when the said surface is placed against said face, anexhaust duct formed in said body and having fluid communication with atleast a group of said grooves, said exhaust duct being adapted forconnection to a source of negative pressure whereby when said surface isplaced against the face in a bridging relation across the outside of thelips of the user and said exhaust duct is connected to a negativepressure source, air is drawn through said grooves over and along theexterior of the lips of the user, closely adjacent the point of contactbetween said lips so that matter positioned by the user between saidlips is entrained in said air streams and carried to said exhaust duct.

2. The mouthpiece of claim 1 wherein said body comprises a thin platehaving said grooves formed as depressions therein that extend below saidsurface and have open sides lying in said surface.

3. The expectorant mouthpiece of claim 2 wherein said plate is of asubstantially rounded peripheral configuration, wherein said groovesextend radially from the periphery of said plate to an inwardlypositioned portion thereof, and wherein said exhaust duct is formed asan integral tubular projection fromsaid'inwardly positioned portion ofsaid plate.

4. The mouthpiece of claim 3 wherein said surface is outwardly concave.

5. The mouthpiece of claim 1 wherein said surface is outwardly convex.

6. The mouthpiece of claim 1 wherein said body is substantiallysaddle-shaped, being concave in a longitudinal direction and convex in atransverse direction, so that said body is adapted to substantiallyconform to the curvature of the lips of the user from one side of theface to the other in a longitudinal direction and is adapted to pressagainst and contact forward portions of the lips in the transversedirection, at least some of said grooves being formed as slots in saidbody mutually spaced from each other in said longitudinal direc tion andextending along said convexly caved curved surface in said transversedirection, at least one of said grooves comprising a slot extendinglongitudinally of said body and communicating with said transverselyextending slots and said exhaust duct.

7. The mouthpiece of claim 6 including a second duct formed in said bodyand extending therethrough to form an aperture in said surface, saidsecond duct being adapted for connection to a source of positivepressure fluid, whereby fluid under pressure may be controllablyprojected from said aperture towardthe oral cavity, and the user mayexpel fluid from said oral cavity toward said grooves for entrainment inand collection by air-streams flowing through said grooves and throughsaid exhaust duct.

8. The mouthpiece of claim wherein sid body is of substantiallycylindrical configuration, wherein said grooves include a plurality oflongitudinally spaced transversely extending grooves and alongitudinally extending groove in communication with at least a groupof said transversely extending grooves, said last mentioned groove beingin communication with said exhaust duct.

9. The mouthpiece of claim 8 including a fluid projecting duct extendingthrough said body to an aperture positioned on said surface adjacentsaid grooves, and means for connecting said fluid projecting duct to acontrollable source of pressurized fluid whereby fluid under pressuremay be controllably projected from said aperture into an oral cavity andthe user may expel fluid from said oral cavity toward said grooves forentrainment in and collection by air streams flowing through saidgrooves and through said exhaust duct.

l0. The method of collecting fluid from an oral cavity without insertingany object into said cavity comprising the steps of forming a network ofintercommunicating air conduits, at least some of said conduits havingsides thereof open for at least a portion of their length, said opensides collectively defining a fluid collecting surface having atransverse dimension sufficient to enable said surface to extend overand beyond the lips of said oral cavity,

placing at least a portion of said fluid collecting surface and saidopen conduit sides against the exterior of the lips of said oral cavitywhereby parts of said open conduit sides that are in contact with andextend beyond said lips will be bridged by such contact and other partsof said open conduit sides positioned between said lips will remainopen,

flowing air through said network of conduits toward an area thereof thatis intermediate said portion that is adapted to be positioned againstsaid lips, and receiving in said conduits fluid expelled from said oralcavity between said lips. 11. The method of claim 10 wherein said stepof forming said network of conduits comprises the steps of forming amouthpiece having an external surface adapted to be placed against thelips of said oral cavity to bridge an opening between said lips when thelips are slightly parted, forming a plurality of grooves in saidsurface, and forming exhaust duct in said mouthpiece in fluidcommunication with at least a group of said grooves.

12. The method of collecting matter from or upon the skin of an externalportion of the human body comprising the steps of flowing a plurality ofairstreams along and against the outer surface of a selected area ofsaid skin, said area having a dimension at least equal to a dimensionsufficient to encompass both upper and lower lips, directing andconfining said aristreams to flow in predetermined paths substantiallyalong the outer surface of said skin toward a common point, and

collecting air from said streams at said common point for remotedisposal, whereby said airstreams flowing along said skin will entrainmoisture and other matter upon said skin in the paths of flow of saidairstreams and such entrained matter and moisture may be collected forremote disposal.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said skin area comprises at least aportion of the lips of the oral cavity, and wherein at least some ofsaid airstreams are caused to flow across one of said lips toward theother.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said air streams are caused to flowtoward a common point positioned substantially between said lips fromdiverse peripheral points spaced outwardly along said lips in aplurality of different directions.

15. The method of claim l2including the step of collectively moving allof said airstreams in unison over said skin in a wiping motion tothereby entrain matter and moisture into said airstreams from differentportions of said skin.

16. A mouthpiece for collecting saliva and material contained thereinafter expulsion from the interior of an oral cavity, said mouthpiececomprising means for providing a plurality of open sided air flowconduits adapted to be positioned closely adjacent the lips of the userso that said air flow conduits will generally follow contours of saidlips and are adapted to have the open sides thereof bridged at least inpart by contact with said lips, said means having a concave surface of atransverse dimension considerably greater than the transverse extent ofthe upper and lower lips, v a common duct formed in said mouthpiece,means for providing fluid communication between said conduits and saidcommon duct, and means for connecting said common duct to a source ofnegative pressure whereby air is caused to flow through said conduitsand along the exterior of said lips and, as it flows, will entrainsaliva expectorated from said oral cavity when said mouthpiece is placedagainst said lips. 17. The mouthpiece, of claim 16 wherein said meansforv providing air flow conduits comprises a body adapted to bridge thespace between slightly parted lips of an oral cavity, and a network ofintercommunicating inward portion of said surface.

19. The mouthpiece of claim 16 wherein said means for providing air flowconduits comprises a body having an exterior surface adapted to beplaced against said lips to bridge the lips when they are slightlyparted.

20. A mouthpiece for collecting'saliva and material contained thereinafter expulsion from the interior of an oral cavity, said mouthpiececomprising means for providing a plurality of open sided air flowconduits adapted to be positioned closely adjacent the lips of the userso that said air flow conduits will generally follow contours of saidlips and are adapted to have the open sides thereof bridged at least inpart by contact with said lips, said means having a concave surface of atransverse dimension considerably greater than the transverse extent ofthe upper and lower lips, a common duct formed in said mouthpiece, meansfor providing fluid communication between said conduits and said commonduct,

means for connecting said common duct to a source of negative pressurewhereby air is caused to flow through said conduits and along theexterior of said lips and, as it flows, will entrain saliva expectoratedfrom said oral cavity when said mouthpiece is placed against said lips,said means for providing air flow conduits comprising a body having anexterior surface adapted to be placed against said lips to bridge thelipswhen they are slightly parted, said surface being of substantiallyelongated saddleshape, being concavely curved in a longitudinaldirection and being convexly curved in a transverse direction, saidconduits comprising aplurality of longitudinally spaced groovesextending transversely about at least one side of said surface andincludng means for providing fluid communication between all of saidgrooves and said common duct. 21. A mouthpiece for collecting saliva andmaterial contained therein after expulsion from the interior of an oralcavity, said mouthpiece comprising means for providing a plurality ofopen sided air flow conduits adapted to be positioned closely adjacentthe lips of the user so that said air flow conduits will generallyfollow contours of said lips and are adapted to have the open sidesthereof bridged at least in part by contact with said lips, said meanshaving a concave surface of a transverse dimension considerably greaterthan the-transverse extent of the upper and lower lips,

a common duct formed in said mouthpiece,

means for providing fluid communication between said conduits and saidcommon duct,

means for connecting said common duct to a source of negative pressurewhereby air is caused to flow through said conduits and along theexterior of said lips and, as it flows, will entrain saliva expectorated'from said oral cavity when said mouthpiece is placed against said lips,

said means for providing air flow conduits comprising a body having anexterior surface adapted to be placed against saidlips to bridge thelips when'they are slightly parted, said surface being cylindrical,having a plurality of longitudinally spaced transversely extendingperipheral therein and having a longitudinally extending grooveintersecting at least a group of said transversely extending grooves,and means for coupling said common duct with said longitudinallyextending groove.

22. A mouthpiece for collecting saliva and material contained thereinafter expulsion from the interior of an oral cavity, said mouthpiececomprising means for providing a plurality of open sided air flowconduits adapted to be positioned closely adjacent the lips of the userso that said air flow conduits will generally follow contours of saidlips and are adapted to have the open sides thereof bridged at least inpart by contact with said lips, said means having a concave surface of atransverse dimension considerably greater than the transverse extent ofthe upper and lower lips,

a common duct formed in said mouthpiece,

means for providing fluid communication between said conduits and saidcommon duct,

means for connecting said common duct to a source of negative pressurewhereby air is caused to flow through said conduits and along theexterior of said lips and, as it flows, will entrain saliva expectoratedfrom said oral cavity when said mouthpiece is placed against said lips,said means for providing air flow conduits comprising I an expectorantplate having a plurality of apertures and having an exterior surfaceadapted to be placed against the outside of the lips of the user tobridge said lips when the latter are slightly parted,

a suction body detachably connected to said plate member and having asuction surface mating with and positioned closely adjacent but spacedfrom the inner surface of said plate, said common duct comprising anexhaust duct formed in said suction body in communication with saidsuction surface and adapted to be connected to a source of negativepressure, said suction body including a plurality of ports providingcommunication between said suction surface and ambient atmosphere,whereby when said plate is placed against the lips of ,the user and saidgrooves formed exhaust duct is connected to a source of negativepressure a plurality of airstreams are caused to flow to said suctionsurface from said ambient atmosphere ports and through said expectorantplate apertures, whereby saliva positioned at or on said lips by theuser will be withdrawn through the apertures of said expectorant plate,mixed with air drawn through said ambient atmosphere ports to saidsuction surface and exhausted through said exhaust duct for remotedisposal.

23. A suction mouthpiece assembly adapted to be placed against andpartly cover a users lips, said mouthpiece comprising a suction bodyhaving a dished suction surface,

a plurality of relief ports formed in said body and in communicatgonwith said suction surface for providing a flow of air to said surface,

an exhaust duct formed in said body in fluid communication with saidsurface and adapted to be connected to a source of negative pressure,

an expectorant plate having a configuration substantially conforming tothe configuration of said suction surface,

said plate being connected with said suction body and spaced from saidsuction surface by a relatively small distance, said plate having aplurality of apertures formed therethrough providing communicationbetween an exterior surface of said plate and said suction surface,

said mouthpiece assembly being adapted to be placed against the outsideof the lips of the user and to receive saliva ejected by the useragainst said plate whereby liquid on said plate is withdrawn throughsaid plate apertures to said suction surface and mixed at said suctionsurface with air drawn through said relief ports for remote disposal.

24. The mouthpiece of claim 23 wherein said body and plate each have alike dimension sufficient to enable the plate to bridge the users lipsand contact the face over an area encompassing both upper and lowerlips, and wherein said relief ports comprise a plurality of notchesformed in and mutually spaced about the peripherial edge of said dishedsuction surface.

1. A suction mouthpiece for use adjacent to, but totally outside of theoral cavity comprising a mouthpiece body having a surface adapted to bepressed against the face of the user in a position to contact upper andlower lips when the lips are closed or slightly parted, said surfacehaving a transverse dimension sufficient to enable said mouthpiece tobridge said lips and contact the face of the user over an areaencompassing at least a part of both upper and lower lips, said surfacebeing formed with a plurality of grooves, at least some of said groovesextending to a portion of said body that is free of contact with theface of the user when the said surface is placed against said face, anexhaust duct formed in said body and having fluid communication with atleast a group of said grooves, said exhaust duct being adapted forconnection to a source of negative pressure whereby when said surface isplaced against the face in a bridging relation across the outside of thelips of the user and said exhaust duct is connected to a negativepressure source, air is drawn through said grooves over and along theexterior of the lips of the user, closely adjacent the point of contactbetween said lips so that matter positioned by the user between saidlips is entrained in said air streams and carried to said exhaust duct.2. The mouthpiece of claim 1 wherein said body comprises a thin platehaving said grooves formed as depressions therein that extend below saidsurface and have open sides lying in said surface.
 3. The expectorantmouthpiece of claim 2 wherein said plate is of a substantially roundedperipheral configuration, wherein said grooves extend radially from theperiphery of said plate to an inwardly positioned portion thereof, andwherein said exhaust duct is formed as an integral tubular projectionfrom said inwardly positioned portion of said plate.
 4. The mouthpieceof claim 3 wherein said surface is outwardly concave.
 5. The mouthpieceof claim 1 wherein said surface is outwardly convex.
 6. The mouthpieceof claim 1 wherein said body is substantially saddle-shaped, beingconcave in a longitudinal direction and convex in a transversedirection, so that said body is adapted to substantially conform to thecurvature of the lips of the user from one side of the face to the otherin a longitudinal direction and is adapted to press against and contactforward portions of the lips in the transverse direction, at least someof said grooves being formed as slots in said body mutually spaced fromeach other in said longitudinal direction and extending along saidconvexly caved curved surface in said transverse direction, at least oneof said grooves comprising a slot extending longitudinally of said bodyand communicating with said transversely extending slots and saidexhaust duct.
 7. The mouthpiece of claim 6 including a second ductformed in said body and extending therethrough to form an aperture insaid surface, said second duct being adapted for connection to a sourceof positive pressure fluid, whereby fluid under pressure may becontrollably projected from said aperture toward the oral cavity, andthe user may expel fluid from said oral cavity toward said grooves forentrainment in and collection by air-streams flowing through saidgrooves and through said exhaust duct.
 8. The mouthpiece of claim 5wherein said body is of substantially cylindrical configuration, whereinsaid grooves include a plurality of longitudinally spaced transverselyextending grooves and a longitudinally extending groove in communicationwith at least a group of said transversely extending grooves, said lastmentioned groove being in communication with said exhaust duct.
 9. Themouthpiece of claim 8 including a fluid projecting duct extendingthrough said body to an aperture positioned on said surface adjacentsaid grooves, and means for connecting said fluid projecting duct to acontrollable source of pressurized fluid whereby fluid under pressuremay be controllably projected from said aperture into an oral cavity andthe user may expel fluid from said oral cavity toward said grooves forentrainment in and collection by air streams flowing through saidgrooves and through said exhaust duct.
 10. The method of collectingfluid from an oral cavity without inserting any object into said cavitycomprising the steps of forming a network of intercommunicating airconduits, at least some of said conduits having sides thereof open forat least a portion of their length, said open sides collectivelydefining a fluid collecting surface having a transverse dimensionsufficient to enable said surface to extend over and beyond the lips ofsaid oral cavity, placing at least a portion of said fluid collectingsurface and said open conduit sides against the exterior of the lips ofsaid oral cavity whereby parts of said open conduit sides that are incontact with and extend beyond said lips will be bridged by such contactand other parts of said open conduit sides positioned between said lipswill remain open, flowing air through said network of conduits toward anarea thereof that is intermediate said portion that is adapted to bepositioned against said lips, and receiving in said conduits fluidexpelled from said oral cavity between said lips.
 11. The method ofclaim 10 wherein said step of forming said network of conduits comprisesthe steps of forming a mouthpiece having an external surface adapted tobe placed against the lips of said oral cavity to bridge an openingbetween said lips when the lips are slightly parted, forming a pluralityof grooves in said surface, and forming exhaust duct in said mouthpiecein fluid communication with at least a group of said grooves.
 12. Themethod of collecting matter from or upon the skin of an external portionof the human body comprising the steps of flowing a plurality ofairstreams along and against the outer surface of a selected area ofsaid skin, said area having a dimension at least equal to a dimensionsufficient to encompass both upper and lower lips, directing andconfining said aristreams to flow in predetermined paths substantiallyalong the outer surface of said skin toward a common point, andcollecting air from said streams at said common point for remotedisposal, whereby said airstreams flowing along said skin will entrainmoisture and other matter upon said skin in the paths of flow of saidairstreams and such entrained matter and moisture may be collected forremote disposal.
 13. The method of claim 12 wherein said skin areacomprises at least a portion of the lips of the oral cavity, and whereinat least some of said airstreams are caused to flow across one of saidlips toward the other.
 14. The method of claim 13 wherein said airstreams are caused to flow toward a common point positionedsubstantially between said lips from diverse peripheral points spacedoutwardly along said lips in a plurality of different directions. 15.The method of claim 12 including the step of collectively moving all ofsaid airstreams in unison over said skin in a wiping motion to therebyentrain matter and moisture into said airstreams from different portionsof said skin.
 16. A mouthpiece for collecting saliva and materialcontained therein after expulsion from the interior of an oral cavity,said mouthpiece comprising means for providing a plurality of open sidedair flow conduits adapted to be positioned closely adjacent the lips ofthe user so that said air flow conduits will generally follow contoursof said lips and are adapted to have the open sides thereoF bridged atleast in part by contact with said lips, said means having a concavesurface of a transverse dimension considerably greater than thetransverse extent of the upper and lower lips, a common duct formed insaid mouthpiece, means for providing fluid communication between saidconduits and said common duct, and means for connecting said common ductto a source of negative pressure whereby air is caused to flow throughsaid conduits and along the exterior of said lips and, as it flows, willentrain saliva expectorated from said oral cavity when said mouthpieceis placed against said lips.
 17. The mouthpiece of claim 16 wherein saidmeans for providing air flow conduits comprises a body adapted to bridgethe space between slightly parted lips of an oral cavity, and a networkof intercommunicating grooves formed in an external surface of saidbody.
 18. The mouthpiece of claim 17 wherein said body surface issubstantially dish-shaped and wherein said grooves extend substantiallyradially of said surface to flow air from the periphery of said surfacetoward a central portion thereof, said common duct being incommunication with said grooves substantially at an inward portion ofsaid surface.
 19. The mouthpiece of claim 16 wherein said means forproviding air flow conduits comprises a body having an exterior surfaceadapted to be placed against said lips to bridge the lips when they areslightly parted.
 20. A mouthpiece for collecting saliva and materialcontained therein after expulsion from the interior of an oral cavity,said mouthpiece comprising means for providing a plurality of open sidedair flow conduits adapted to be positioned closely adjacent the lips ofthe user so that said air flow conduits will generally follow contoursof said lips and are adapted to have the open sides thereof bridged atleast in part by contact with said lips, said means having a concavesurface of a transverse dimension considerably greater than thetransverse extent of the upper and lower lips, a common duct formed insaid mouthpiece, means for providing fluid communication between saidconduits and said common duct, means for connecting said common duct toa source of negative pressure whereby air is caused to flow through saidconduits and along the exterior of said lips and, as it flows, willentrain saliva expectorated from said oral cavity when said mouthpieceis placed against said lips, said means for providing air flow conduitscomprising a body having an exterior surface adapted to be placedagainst said lips to bridge the lips when they are slightly parted, saidsurface being of substantially elongated saddle-shape, being concavelycurved in a longitudinal direction and being convexly curved in atransverse direction, said conduits comprising a plurality oflongitudinally spaced grooves extending transversely about at least oneside of said surface and includng means for providing fluidcommunication between all of said grooves and said common duct.
 21. Amouthpiece for collecting saliva and material contained therein afterexpulsion from the interior of an oral cavity, said mouthpiececomprising means for providing a plurality of open sided air flowconduits adapted to be positioned closely adjacent the lips of the userso that said air flow conduits will generally follow contours of saidlips and are adapted to have the open sides thereof bridged at least inpart by contact with said lips, said means having a concave surface of atransverse dimension considerably greater than the transverse extent ofthe upper and lower lips, a common duct formed in said mouthpiece, meansfor providing fluid communication between said conduits and said commonduct, means for connecting said common duct to a source of negativepressure whereby air is caused to flow through said conduits and alongthe exterior of said lips and, as it flows, will entrain salivaexpectorated from said oral cavity when said mouthpiece Is placedagainst said lips, said means for providing air flow conduits comprisinga body having an exterior surface adapted to be placed against said lipsto bridge the lips when they are slightly parted, said surface beingcylindrical, having a plurality of longitudinally spaced transverselyextending peripheral grooves formed therein and having a longitudinallyextending groove intersecting at least a group of said transverselyextending grooves, and means for coupling said common duct with saidlongitudinally extending groove.
 22. A mouthpiece for collecting salivaand material contained therein after expulsion from the interior of anoral cavity, said mouthpiece comprising means for providing a pluralityof open sided air flow conduits adapted to be positioned closelyadjacent the lips of the user so that said air flow conduits willgenerally follow contours of said lips and are adapted to have the opensides thereof bridged at least in part by contact with said lips, saidmeans having a concave surface of a transverse dimension considerablygreater than the transverse extent of the upper and lower lips, a commonduct formed in said mouthpiece, means for providing fluid communicationbetween said conduits and said common duct, means for connecting saidcommon duct to a source of negative pressure whereby air is caused toflow through said conduits and along the exterior of said lips and, asit flows, will entrain saliva expectorated from said oral cavity whensaid mouthpiece is placed against said lips, said means for providingair flow conduits comprising an expectorant plate having a plurality ofapertures and having an exterior surface adapted to be placed againstthe outside of the lips of the user to bridge said lips when the latterare slightly parted, a suction body detachably connected to said platemember and having a suction surface mating with and positioned closelyadjacent but spaced from the inner surface of said plate, said commonduct comprising an exhaust duct formed in said suction body incommunication with said suction surface and adapted to be connected to asource of negative pressure, said suction body including a plurality ofports providing communication between said suction surface and ambientatmosphere, whereby when said plate is placed against the lips of theuser and said exhaust duct is connected to a source of negative pressurea plurality of airstreams are caused to flow to said suction surfacefrom said ambient atmosphere ports and through said expectorant plateapertures, whereby saliva positioned at or on said lips by the user willbe withdrawn through the apertures of said expectorant plate, mixed withair drawn through said ambient atmosphere ports to said suction surfaceand exhausted through said exhaust duct for remote disposal.
 23. Asuction mouthpiece assembly adapted to be placed against and partlycover a user''s lips, said mouthpiece comprising a suction body having adished suction surface, a plurality of relief ports formed in said bodyand in communicatgon with said suction surface for providing a flow ofair to said surface, an exhaust duct formed in said body in fluidcommunication with said surface and adapted to be connected to a sourceof negative pressure, an expectorant plate having a configurationsubstantially conforming to the configuration of said suction surface,said plate being connected with said suction body and spaced from saidsuction surface by a relatively small distance, said plate having aplurality of apertures formed therethrough providing communicationbetween an exterior surface of said plate and said suction surface, saidmouthpiece assembly being adapted to be placed against the outside ofthe lips of the user and to receive saliva ejected by the user againstsaid plate whereby liquid on said plate is withdrawn through said plateapertures to said suction surface and mixed at said suction surface withair drawn through said rElief ports for remote disposal.
 24. Themouthpiece of claim 23 wherein said body and plate each have a likedimension sufficient to enable the plate to bridge the user''s lips andcontact the face over an area encompassing both upper and lower lips,and wherein said relief ports comprise a plurality of notches formed inand mutually spaced about the peripherial edge of said dished suctionsurface.